One in five kids talk to strangers online

A new report which says one in five children talk to strangers online is "troubling", Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says.

Internet security company McAfee made the claim in its Tweens, Teens and Technology Report, launched in Sydney on Tuesday.

The research, based on interviews with 500 children aged between eight and 12, also found six per cent of youngsters had met up with a stranger.

"This information is troubling for any parent or carer," Senator Conroy said.

"It shows we must remain vigilant to online threats."

Other findings from the report include that 26 per cent of children aged between eight and 12 have Facebook accounts - despite the social networking giant having guidelines which recommend only those aged 13 and over use the site.